Memory card with two standard sets of contacts and a contact covering mechanism

ABSTRACT

Enclosed re-programmable non-volatile memory cards include at least two sets of electrical contacts to which the internal memory is connected. The two sets of contacts have different patterns, preferably in accordance with two different contact standards such as a memory card standard and that of the Universal Serial Bus (USB). One memory card standard that can be followed is that of the Secure Digital (SD) card. The cards can thus be used with different hosts that are compatible with one set of contacts but not the other. A cover that is hinged to the card to normally cover one set of contacts can be rotated out of the way by hand when that set of contacts is being used.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of utility patent application Ser. No. 11/196,160,filed on Aug. 2, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,310,692, which is acontinuation-in-part of utility patent application Ser. No. 10/826,796,filed Apr. 16, 2004 by Miller et al. These references are incorporatedin their entirety by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

This is also related to design patent application no. 29/203,693, filedApr. 16, 2004, now U.S. Design Pat. No. D535,297, issued Jan. 16, 2007by Cuellar et al. entitled “Memory Card With Two Sets of Contacts”, andto design patent application no. 29/235,538, filed Aug. 2, 2005, nowU.S. Design Pat. No. D542,797, issued May 15, 2007 by Cuellar et al.entitled “Memory Card with a Contact Covering Lid”. These references areincorporated in their entirety by references as if fully set forthherein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the use and structure of removableelectronic circuit cards having different mechanical and/or electricalinterfaces, particularly those including mass re-programmablenon-volatile integrated circuit memory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic circuit cards, including non-volatile memory cards, have beencommercially implemented according to a number of well-known standards.Memory cards are used with personal computers, cellular telephones,personal digital assistants (PDAs), digital still cameras, digital moviecameras, portable audio players and other host electronic devices forthe storage of large amounts of data. Such cards usually contain are-programmable non-volatile semiconductor memory cell array along witha controller that controls operation of the memory cell array andinterfaces with a host to which the card connected. Several of the sametype of card may be interchanged in a host card slot designed to acceptthat type of card. However, the development of the many electronic cardstandards has created different types of cards that are incompatiblewith each other in various degrees. A card made according to onestandard is usually not useable with a host designed to operate with acard of another standard.

One such standard, the PC Card Standard, provides specifications forthree types of Personal Computer (PC) cards. Originally released in1990, the PC Card Standard now contemplates three forms of a rectangularcard measuring 85.6 mm. by 54.0 mm., having thicknesses of 3.3 mm. (TypeI), 5.0 mm. (Type II) and 10.5 mm. (Type III). An electrical connector,which engages pins of a slot in which the card is removably inserted, isprovided along a narrow edge of the card. PC Card slots are included incurrent notebook personal computers, as well as in other host equipment,particularly portable devices. The PC Card Standard is a product of thePersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA). Thecurrent PC Card specifications, “PC Card Standard Release 8.0,” datedApril 2001, is available from the PCMCIA.

In 1994, SanDisk Corporation, assignee of the present application,introduced the CompactFlash™ card (CF™ card) that is functionallycompatible with the PC Card but is much smaller. The CF™ card isrectangularly shaped with dimensions of 42.8 mm. by 36.4 mm. and athickness of 3.3 mm., and has a female pin connector along one edge. TheCF™ card is widely used with cameras for the storage of still videodata. A passive adapter card is available, in which the CF card fits,that then can be inserted into a PC Card slot of a host computer orother device. The controller within the CF card operates with the card'sflash memory to provide an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA)interface at its connector. That is, a host with which a CF card isconnected interfaces with the card as if it is a disk drive.Specifications for the CompactFlash card have been established by theCompactFlash Association, “CF+ and CompactFlash Specification Revision2.0,” dated May 2003. An implementation of these specifications isdescribed by SanDisk Corporation in a product manual “CompactFlashMemory Card Product Manual,” revision 10.1, dated September 2003.

The SmartMedia™ card is about one-third the size of a PC Card, havingdimensions of 45.0 mm. by 37.0 mm. and is very thin at only 0.76 mm.thick. Contacts are provided in a defined pattern as areas on a surfaceof the card. Its specifications have been defined by the Solid StateFloppy Disk Card (SSFDC) Forum, which began in 1996. It contains flashmemory, particularly of the NAND type. The SmartMedia™ card is intendedfor use with portable electronic devices, particularly cameras and audiodevices, for storing large amounts of data. A memory controller isincluded either in the host device or in an adapter card in anotherformat such as one according to the PC Card standard. Physical andelectrical specifications for the SmartMedia™ card have been issued bythe SSFDC Forum.

Another non-volatile memory card is the MultiMediaCard (MMC™). Thephysical and electrical specifications for the MMC™ are given in “TheMultiMediaCard System Specification” that is updated and published fromtime-to-time by the MultiMediaCard Association (MMCA), including version3.1, dated June 2001. MMC products having varying storage capacity arecurrently available from SanDisk Corporation. The MMC card isrectangularly shaped with a size similar to that of a postage stamp. Thecard's dimensions are 32.0 mm. by 24.0 mm. and 1.4 mm. thick, with a rowof electrical contacts on a surface of the card along a narrow edge thatalso contains a cut-off corner. These products are described in a“MultiMediaCard Product Manual,” Revision 5.2, dated March 2003,published by SanDisk Corporation. Certain aspects of the electricaloperation of the MMC products are also described in U.S. Pat. No.6,279,114 and in patent application Ser. No. 09/186,064, filed Nov. 4,1998, now Pat. No. 6,901,457, both by applicants Thomas N. Toombs andMicky Holtzman, and assigned to SanDisk Corporation. The physical cardstructure and a method of manufacturing it are described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,040,622, assigned to SanDisk Corporation.

A modified version of the MMC™ card is the later Secure Digital (SD)card. The SD Card has the same rectangular size as the MMC™ card butwith an increased thickness (2.1 mm.) in order to accommodate anadditional memory chip when that is desired. A primary differencebetween these two cards is the inclusion in the SD card of securityfeatures for its use to store proprietary data such as that of music.Another difference between them is that the SD Card includes additionaldata contacts in order to enable faster data transfer between the cardand a host. The other contacts of the SD Card are the same as those ofthe MMC™ card in order that sockets designed to accept the SD Card canalso be made to accept the MMC™ card. A total of nine contacts arepositioned along a short edge of the card that contains a cutoff corner.This is described in patent application Ser. No. 09/641,023, filed byCedar et al. on Aug. 17, 2000, International Publication Number WO02/15020. The electrical interface with the SD card is further made tobe, for the most part, backward compatible with the MMC™ card, in orderthat few changes to the operation of the host need be made in order toaccommodate both types of cards. Complete specifications for the SD cardare available to member companies from the SD Association (SDA). Apublic document describing the physical and some electricalcharacteristics of the SD Card is available from the SDA: “SimplifiedVersion of: Part 1 Physical Layer Specification Version 1.01,” datedApr. 15, 2001.

More recently, a miniSD card has been specified by the SDA and iscommercially available. This card is smaller than the SD card butprovides much of the same functionality. It has a modified rectangularshape with dimensions of 21.5 mm. long, 20.0 mm. wide and 1.4 mm. thick.A total of eleven electrical contacts are positioned in a row on asurface of the card along one edge. The miniSD memory card is availablefrom SanDisk Corporation and described in the “SanDisk miniSD CardProduct Manual,” version 1.0, April 2003.

Another type of memory card is the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), thespecifications of which are published by the European TelecommunicationsStandards Institute (ETSI). A portion of these specifications appear asGSM 11.11, a recent version being technical specification ETSI TS 100977 V8.3.0 (2000-08), entitled “Digital Cellular TelecommunicationsSystem (Phase 2+); Specification of the Subscriber IdentityModule—Mobile Equipment (SIM—ME) Interface,” (GSM 11.11 Version 8.3.0Release 1999). Two types of SIM cards are specified: ID-1 SIM andPlug-in SIM.

The ID-1 SIM card has a format and layout according to the ISO/IEC 7810and 7816 standards of the International Organization for Standardization(ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). TheISO/IEC 7810 standard is entitled “Identification cards—Physicalcharacteristics,” second edition, August 1995. The ISO/IEC 7816 standardhas the general title of “Identification cards—Integrated Circuit(s)Cards with Contacts,” and consists of parts 1-10 that carry individualdates from 1994 through 2000. Copies of these standards are availablefrom the ISO/IEC in Geneva, Switzerland. The ID-1 SIM card is generallythe size of a credit card, having dimensions of 85.60 mm. by 53.98 mm.,with rounder corners, and a thickness of 0.76 mm. Such a card may haveonly memory or may also include a microprocessor, the latter often beingreferred to as a “Smart Card.” One application of a Smart Card is as adebit card where an initial credit balance is decreased every time it isused to purchase a product or a service.

The Plug-in SIM is a very small card, smaller than the MMC™ and SDcards. The GSM 11.11 specification referenced above calls for this cardto be a rectangle 25 mm. by 15 mm., with one corner cut off fororientation, and with the same thickness as the ID-1 SIM card. A primaryuse of the Plug-in SIM card is in mobile telephones and other devicesfor security against the theft and/or unauthorized use of the devices,in which case the card stores a security code personal to the device'sowner or user. In both types of SIM cards, eight electrical contacts(but with as few as five being used) are specified in the ISO/IEC 7816standard to be arranged on a surface of the card for contact by a hostreceptacle.

Sony Corporation has developed and commercialized a non-volatile memorycard, sold as the Memory Stick™, that has yet another set ofspecifications. Its shape is that of an elongated rectangle having 10electrical contacts in a row and individually recessed into a surfaceadjacent one of its short sides that also contains a cut out corner fororientation. The card's size is 50.0 mm. long by 21.5 mm. wide by 2.8mm. thick.

A more recent Memory Stick Duo card is smaller, having dimensions of31.0 mm. long by 20.0 mm. wide by 1.6 mm. thick. Ten contacts areprovided in a common recess in a surface and along a short side of thecard, which also contains an orienting notch. This smaller card is oftenused by insertion into a passive adapter having the shape of a MemoryStick card.

SanDisk Corporation has introduced an even smaller transportablenon-volatile TransFlash memory module in a modified rectangular shape,having dimensions of 15.0 mm. long by 11.0 mm. wide by 1.0 mm. thick.Eight electrical contact pads are provided in a row on a surfaceadjacent a short edge of the card. This card is useful for a variety ofapplications, particularly with portable devices, and is beingincorporated into multimedia camera cell telephones.

As is apparent from the foregoing summary of the primary electronic cardstandards, there are many differences in their physical characteristicsincluding size and shape, in the number, arrangement and structure ofelectrical contacts and in the electrical interface with a host systemthrough those contacts when the card is connected with a host.Electronic devices that use electronic cards are usually made to workwith only one type of card. Adaptors, both active and passive types,have been provided or proposed to allow some degree ofinterchangeability of electronic cards among such host devices. U.S.Pat. No. 6,266,724 of Harari et al. describes use of combinations ofmother and daughter memory cards.

Small, hand-held re-programmable non-volatile memories have also beenmade to interface with a computer or other type of host through aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) connector. These are especially convenientfor users who have one or more USB connectors available on the front oftheir personal computers, particularly if a receptacle slot for one ofthe above identified memory cards is not present. Such devices are alsovery useful for transferring data between various host systems that haveUSB receptacles, including portable devices. Mechanical and electricaldetails of the USB interface are provided by the “Universal Serial BusSpecification,” revision 2.0, dated Apr. 27, 2000. There are several USBflash drive products commercially available from SanDisk Corporationunder its trademark Cruzer. USB flash drives are typically larger andshaped differently than the memory cards described above.

Another, higher transfer rate interface that has become commonplace onpersonal computers and other host devices is specified by the followingstandard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE): “IEEE Standard for a High Performance Serial Bus,” document no.IEEE 1394-1995, as amended by document nos. IEEE 1394a-2000 and IEEE1394b-2002. A common commercial form of this bus interface is known asFireWire. Because of its higher speed, this interface is particularlyuseful for the transfer of large amounts of data to and from a computingdevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electronic circuit card, such as one containing re-programmablenon-volatile memory, includes two or more external sets of electricalcontacts and a cover for at least one of the sets of contacts that isattached to the card and is rotatable by hand about an axis extendingacross the width of the card to expose the contacts. The two sets ofcontacts may conform to different recognized mechanical and electricalstandards and specifications such as two or more of those describedabove. The internal memory of a memory card, most commonly flash memory,is operable through any of the sets of external contacts alone with theappropriate signal protocol. The standards that are implemented arepreferably those that will allow the system to be used directly with awide variety of host devices having receptacles with various physicaland electronic signal protocol and format characteristics.

In specific embodiments, the cover is held attached to the card by apair of rigid hinges in a manner that allows the cover to be rotatedwith respect to the card approximately one-hundred eighty degreesbetween closed and opened positions that cover and expose, respectively,one set of contacts. In a particular example, the hinges are retained ingrooves in the card and the cover. Adjoining surfaces of the hinges andgrooves are cooperatively contoured in a manner to provide positivedetents that hold the card in at least an opened position, andoptionally also in a closed position. These mating shapes may also bemade to hold the lid partially opened, such as at ninety degrees to thememory card. The lid is rotated between these positions upon urging witha finger to overcome the slight retaining force of the detents.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and details of the variousaspects of the present invention are included in the followingdescription of exemplary examples thereof, which description should betaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. All patents, patentapplications, articles, manuals, standards, specifications and otherpublications referenced herein are hereby incorporated herein by thosereferences in their entirety for all purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of a memory card having two setsof electrical contacts with a cover of one set of contacts closed (FIG.1A) and with the cover opened (FIG. 1B);

FIGS. 2A and 2B are plan views of the memory card as shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, respectively;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the memory card shown in FIGS. 1A-2B with itscover closed, as viewed from position 3A-3A of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the memory card shown in FIGS. 1A-2B with itscover in a position intermediate of its open and closed positions;

FIG. 3C is a side view of the memory card shown in FIGS. 1A-2B with itscover opened, as viewed from position 3C-3C of FIG. 2B;

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C show a specific embodiment of a memory cardaccording to the present invention, in isometric views, with its lidrespectively closed, partially opened and fully opened;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate relative rotational positions of hingesthat attach the cover to the memory card when the cover is in thepositions of FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C, respectively;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are exploded isometric views that further illustraterelative rotational positions of the hinges and mating surfaces of thememory card and cover when the cover is in the positions shown byrespective FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C;

FIG. 7 is a front plan view of the memory card shown in FIG. 4A, itscover being closed;

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of a portion of the card of FIG. 7 that issurrounded by a dashed line marked 7A;

FIG. 8 is a bottom edge view of the memory card shown in FIG. 4C, itscover being fully opened;

FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of a portion of the card of FIG. 8 that issurrounded by a dashed line marked 8A; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an edge of the card and cover takenthrough section 9-9 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The example memory card described herein utilizes one set of contactsand a signal protocol from one published memory card standard, such asthat for the SD card, and the other set of contacts and a signalprotocol according another published standard, such as the USB standardor another that provide similar opportunities for use, such as the IEEE1394 standard. Many types of hosts include receptacle slots for SDcards, particularly cell phones, PDAs, MP-3 players, cameras and thelike, while USB receptacles are common in personal computers, notebookcomputers and the like. Such a combination of interfaces thereby allowsthe memory card system to be used directly with a wider variety of hostdevices than either one alone.

Referring to the figures, an example memory card will be described. Apredominately rectangular main body portion 11, in this case a shortenedversion of the SD card, has a rectangular extension 13 formed as part ofthe card to provide an additional interface, in this case a USBcompatible plug. Since the extension 13 is narrower than the main bodyportion 11, end surfaces 12 and 14 of the main body portion 11 exist oneither side of the extension 13. According to the SD Memory CardSpecifications, nine electrical contacts 15-23 are provided on bottomsurfaces of eight grooves 25-32 along one end of the card, the twocontacts 22 and 23 being placed in the one groove 32. Four electricalcontacts 37-40, arranged according to the USB specifications, areprovided on the flat surface of the extension 13. Both sets of contacts15-23 and 37-40 are positioned on the same side of this example memorycard but they could alternately be placed on opposite sides.

In order to protect the contacts 37-40 when not being used, a cover 43is rotatably connected with the card so that it may be closed to coverthe contacts 37-40 when they are not being used (the position of FIGS.1A, 2A and 3A) and opened to expose the contacts 37-40 when theextension 13 is inserted into a matting receptacle (the position ofFIGS. 1B, 2B and 3C). These positions are shown to be one hundred eightydegrees apart. In this specific example, the cover 43 is attached to thecard main body portion 11 at its end surfaces 12 and 14 by respectivehinges 45 and 47 that allow for such rotation of the cover 43 by hand.The cover 43 has thick side portions 49 and 51 to which the hinges 45and 47 are respectively connected. The side portions 49 and 51 fitaround the extension 13 when the cover is closed, and a thin layer 53 ofmaterial spanning between the side portions 49 and 51 covers thecontacts when the cover 43 is closed. The layer 53 has a size that isapproximately that of the extension 13 in order to cover it when thecover 43 is closed. An end portion 55 spanning the side portions 49 and51 is also preferably provided as part of the cover 43. When the cover43 is closed, its end portion 55 fits over an extreme end of theextension 13.

In order to be compatible with the USB specifications, the extension 13has a minimum length of 12 mm. from the ends 12 and 14 of the main bodyportion 11 and has a width of 12.35 mm. The main body portion 11 of thememory card of FIGS. 1A and 1B, in this specific example, is 24 mm. widewith a thickness of 2.1 mm., according to the SD card standard, but itslength is shortened so that the overall length of the card, with thecover 43 closed, is the 32 mm. length of the SD card. The cover 43 ismade to have the same outside width of 24 mm. and its side portions 49and 51 the same 2.1 mm. thickness as the card main body portion 11,according to the SD card standard. The extension 13 has a thickness of1.70 mm. in the region of the contacts 37-40, according to the USBspecifications, which is less than the 2.1 mm. SD card thickness of themain body portion 11. A 0.4 mm. high ledge may thus be formed at theintersection of the card main body portion 11 and extension 13, giventheir different thicknesses, while an opposite surface on the backsideof the first main body portion 11 and second portion of extension 13 isplanar without any such discontinuity. The thickness difference on thefront side is occupied by the layer 53 when the cover 43 is closed. Thelength of the cover 43 is such that the length of the card with thecover closed is the 32 mm. length of the SD card.

Therefore, when the cover 43 is closed, the card structure has thephysical dimensions and other physical characteristics of the SD memorycard. In order to hold the cover closed, a latch 57 may be provided onthe inside of one or both of the side portions 49 and 51 of the cover 43to snap into mating receptacle(s) (not shown) on the side walls of theextension 13. When the cover 43 is closed, the card can be used as anySD card, the same as if the USB extension portion 13 did not exist. Itis inserted into and removed from receptacles of host devices thatfollow the SD card standard. However, when it is desired to insert thecard into a USB receptacle, the cover 43 is opened to expose theextension 13 and its contacts 37-40. An appropriate latch (not shown)may additionally be included to hold the cover 43 in its openedposition.

In the example shown in the figures, the length of the extension 13 hasbeen minimized according to the USB standards in order to maximize thelength of the main body portion 11 so that it may hold more or largerintegrated circuit chips. This results in the cover 43, when in itsopened position shown in FIG. 1B, not covering the contacts SD cardcontacts 25-32. This is not a problem since the contacts 25-32 areincluded in grooves that minimize touching when being handled and are inany event normally so exposed in SD cards. However, if it is desired forthe cover 43 to lie over the contacts 25-32 when opened, the length ofthe main body portion 11 can be shortened and the extension 13lengthened by a corresponding amount until they have about equallengths. The length of the cover 43 would also then be increased inorder to cover the lengthened extension 13. When in its opened position,the cover would lie over the SD card contacts 15-23. This is the case inthe detailed embodiment described below with respect to FIGS. 4A-9.

The extension 13 is illustrated in the figures to be centered along thewidth of the card main body portion 11, the end edges 12 and 14 of themain body portion 11 therefore being equal. However, other arrangementscan be used instead. For example, the extension 13 can be positionedalong one side of the main body portion 11 and the cover 43 altered tohave one larger side portion instead of the two equal side portions 49and 51 that are illustrated.

Various other details of the example structure shown in the figures cancertainly be further altered so long as the contact structure at one endphysically conforms to one standard and the contact structure at theother end physically conforms to a second standard. One is a memory cardstandard since numerous hand held devices include receptacles for suchcards. A memory card standard other than for the SD card, such as one ofthe others described above, can be utilized instead. The second standardis one that is more commonly used on personal computers, notebookcomputers and other computing devices, in this case the USB standard.The IEEE 1394 standard could instead be used for the second standard,for example, but its use is currently not as widespread as the USB.Alternatively, both sets of contacts may conform to different memorycard standards.

Internal to the memory card is preferably flash memory that is accessedfrom the SD card contacts 15-23 through a controller circuit, ascurrently exists in SD memory cards. An additional interface circuit isprovided for converting the SD signal protocols at the SD contacts 15-23into USB signal protocols at the USB contacts 37-40. Alternatively, asingle controller can be used to provide both signal protocols. If oneor more additional sets of contacts are provided, provision is made tointerface the additional set(s) of contacts with the signal protocols ofthe additional standard(s), so that the internal memory can be accessedthrough the additional contact set(s).

Because of the two interfaces, the memory card of is useable with a widevariety of types of host devices. The SD card set of contacts 15-23 canbe inserted into a memory card slot of a PDA, for example, and the otherset of contacts 37-40 into a USB receptacle of a notebook computer.Addition of the second interface increases the convenience andportability of the memory card. This is an advantage for most all usesof memory cards but is of particular benefit in certain applications.For example, if the memory card stores the medical history and otherhealth information of an individual who is carrying the card at the timeof an accident or sudden illness, it is more likely that emergencyhealth care providers will have access to a host device that canimmediately read the stored information from the card through either ofthe two interfaces. The two interfaces also increase the usefulness of amemory card for transferring data between different types of hosts thatdo not have a common card interface.

The second pattern of contacts and hinged protective cover of the cardshown in the figures can be included in a memory card based upon mostany memory card standard. This structure is not limited to use with theSD card. The extension 13, forming an USB plug, can, for example, beincorporated in a similar manner into the MMC, miniSD, Memory Stick orSmart Media cards.

The specific hinges 45 and 47 shown in the example memory card of thefigures are sometimes called “dog bone” hinges. They are of rigidmaterial. One end of each of these elongated hinges is attached to thecard main body portion 11 to rotate about an axis 61 that extends acrossthe width of the card through its main body portion 11. Another end ofeach of the hinges 45 and 47 is attached to the cover 43 to rotate aboutan axis 63 that extends across the width of the cover 43. Both of theaxes of rotation 61 and 63 are stationary with respect to theirrespective card main body portion 11 and cover 43. During movement ofthe cover between its opened and closed positions, the axis 63 movesnormal to the memory card to allow the cover 43 to adjust between thedifferent levels of the card's top surface. It will also be noted fromthe views of FIGS. 3A-3C that the mating edges of the cover 43 and mainbody portion 11 are curved to allow smooth motion between them as thecover 43 is moved by hand between its open and closed positions. Theaxis 63 also moves laterally along the length of the memory card as thecover is being opened or closed.

This hinge structure can also be modified to provide a detent that holdsthe cover 43 in its closed position (FIG. 3A), in place of the latch 57(FIG. 1B), and in its opened position (FIG. 3C). One way to do so is tosquare off the ends of the rigid hinges 45 and 47 and provide matingrectangular receptacles in the card main body portion 11 and cover 43that latch the cover at 0° and 90° with respect to the hinges but allowsfree rotation between those positions. An alternate structure replacesthe rounded edges of the card main body portion 11 and the cover 43 withsubstantially square surfaces, and the hinges 45 and 47 are providedsome degree of elasticity so that they pull these planar edges togetherwhen the cover 43 is closed. As the cover is then opened by hand, thehinges stretch to allow the edge of the cover to rotate over the edge ofthe card main body portion 11 and then pull the cover and card togetheragain after the cover has been rotated into its opened position.

Other alternatives to this specific hinge structure can certainly beused, so long as the cover 43 is rotatable by hand with respect to thecard main body portion 11 and extension 13 about one or more axesextending across the width of the card. A different type of solidmechanical hinge can be used, for example. Or something altogetherdifferent can be used. A flexible member adhered to the cover and themain body portion 11, for example, may be substituted for the mechanicalhinges. An example of the flexible member is polyimide film bonded orwelded to the pieces.

FIGS. 4A-9 show in detail an electronic card product that specificallyimplements certain aspects of the card designs described above.Structural elements of the memory card of FIGS. 4A-9 described belowthat correspond with elements of FIGS. 1A-3C described above aretherefore identified with the same reference numbers but with a prime(′) added. Many of these corresponding elements are therefore notdescribed again with respect to FIGS. 4A-9, in which case the priordescriptions of the elements in FIGS. 1A-3C are incorporated into thefollowing description.

A main body portion 11′ of the card of FIGS. 4A-9 has a cover 43′attached to the body 11′ by solid, rigid hinges 45′ and 47′ that havethe same shape. The cover 43′ is rotatable with respect to the body 11′over a range of substantially 180 degrees between closed (FIG. 4A) andopened (FIG. 4C) positions. The relative dimensions of the body 11′ andcover 43′ are such that the cover overlies a portion of the cardcontacts 15′-23′ when the cover is opened (FIG. 4C). A USB plugextension 13′ is exposed for use when the cover is opened. When thecover is closed (FIG. 4A), the card has a shape of the SD card and canbe used as a SD card.

The shapes of the hinges and mating surfaces of the card body and coverprovide three stable positions of the cover: closed (FIG. 4A), opened(FIG. 4C) and an optional intermediate position (FIG. 4B). The cover islatched into one of these stable positions by a user manipulating theparts with his or her fingers. They are separated by substantially 90degrees. The latching may be overcome by gentle finger force thatrotates the cover out of any one of these stable positions. Althoughthis is, in this example, the only mechanism that holds the cover fullyopened (FIG. 4C), a more positive latch is also included to hold thecover closed (FIG. 4A). As best shown in FIG. 9, a lip 71 is provided onan underside of the cover 43′ that flexes outward around the extension13′ as the cover is closed to positively latch the extension 13′ whenthe cover reaches the position shown.

A layer 53′ across the cover is preferably provided with indentations73-76 having positions and shapes that match electrical contacts 37′-40′raised above a surface of the extension 13′. When the cover is closed(FIG. 4A), the contacts fit within these indentations to allow the coverlayer 53′ to abut against surface area of the extension 13′ surroundingthe contacts 37′-40′.

The structure and operation of the hinge 47′ will now be described. Thestructure and operation of the hinge 45′ is the same. A slot 79 extendscompletely through the body 11′ for a distance from its edge where thehinge 47′ is held. Similarly, a slot 81 goes all the way through thecover 43′ for a distance from an edge that retains the hinge 47′. Thehinge 47′ is held within these slots. These slots form respective strips86 and 88 that flex outward as the hinge 47′ is rotated with respect tothe respective body 11′ and cover 43′ between the three stablepositions, thereby expanding the width of the slots 79 and 81. Thestrips 86 and 88 resiliently return to their rest positions when thecover is in one of the three stable positions shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B and4C, urging against the hinge 47′.

The structure and operation of the hinge 47′ may best be explained byreference to the exploded views of FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C that showrelative positions of the parts when the cover is in the closed,intermediate and opened positions of respective FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. Thehinge 47′ is a solid plastic piece with first and second cylindricalaxels 81 and 83 that each extend out of opposite sides of the part andare spaced apart along its length. The hinge 47′ therefore rotates aboutaxes 82 and 84 of the respective axles. A pattern of ridges 85, 87 and89 protrude out from a planar surface 91 on one side. The structure onthe opposite side is the same. The ridge 85 extends along the length ofthe hinge 47′ through both of the axels 81 and 83. The ridges 87 and 89extend across the width of the hinge through one of the axels 81 and 83,respectively, perpendicular to the ridge 85. In cross-section, theridges are narrower at their tops than at their bottoms where theyintersect the hinge surface 91. In this example, their sidewalls arealso planar and intersect top planar surfaces of the ridges and thehinge surface 91 with a common angle other than ninety degrees.

Surfaces of the body 11′ and cover 43′ that engage the sides of thehinge 47′ have a complementarily shape. The surfaces that engage oneside of the hinge 47′ are shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. A cylindricallyshaped hole 95 on the main body 11′ receives one end of the axle 81 onthe backside of the hinge 47′ in a manner that allows the axle to rotatewith respect thereto. Similarly, the cover 43′ includes a cylindricallyshaped hole 97 into which one end of the axle 83 is inserted to rotatewith respect to the cover. The body 11′ includes channels 99 and 101that extend through the opening 95 and are perpendicular with eachother. Similarly, channels 103 and 105 pass through the opening 97 ofthe cover 43′ and are perpendicular with each other. In cross-section,the channels 99, 101, 103 and 105 are the same along their lengths andmate with the common shaped ridges 85, 87 and 89 of the hinge 47′. Inthis example, the channels have planar bottom surfaces that are narrowerthan the widths of their openings, and their sidewalls are also planar.The sidewalls therefore intersect the bottom surface of the grooves anda planar surface surrounding the grooves with angles that are other thanninety degrees.

Operation of the hinge 47′ when the cover 43′ is opened or closed canbest be seen by comparing the views of FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. FIG. 6Ashows the relative position of the parts when the cover is closed (seeFIG. 4A). The ridge 85 on the opposite side of the hinge 47′ ispositioned in the channels 99 and 105 of the body 11′ and cover 43′,respectively. The ridge 87 on the opposite side of the hinge ispositioned in the channel 101 of the body 11′, and the ridge 89 in thechannel 105 of the cover 43′

As the cover is opened, the hinge 47′ does not move with respect to thecover 43′ but does rotate about the axis 82 with respect to the body11′. As the cover begins to rotate, the ridges 85 and 87 of the hinge47′ move out of the respective channels 99 and 101 of the body 11′. Thisis possible since the strip 86 is resiliently movable to the side awayfrom the hinge. The mating sloping sides of the ridges and channelscauses a caming action that pushes against the resiliently loaded strip86 as the ridges are forced out of the channels. When the cover has beenrotated ninety degrees to the intermediate position of FIG. 4B, thehinge and cooperating surfaces are caused to again engage each otherbecause of the resilience of the strip 86 urging them together. Theparts are then in the relative positions shown in FIG. 6B. The ridge 85is then positioned within the channel 101 of the body 11′ and the ridge87 in the channel 101. The body 11′ has not moved but the cover 43′ andthe hinge 47′, which remain locked together, have rotated ninety degreesabout the axis 82 with respect to the body 11′.

Further rotation of the cover 43′ moves the parts to their relativepositions shown in FIG. 6C, where the cover is fully opened (see FIG.4C). The hinge 87′ remains locked to the body 11′ as the cover 43′ isrotated ninety degrees with respect to the hinge 47′ about the axis 84.At the beginning of this rotation, the ridges of the hinge move out ofthe channels of the cover by the cam action that urges the strip 88laterally away from the hinge. After the cover is rotated ninetydegrees, the ridges 85 and 89 of the hinge 47′ are urged into therespective channels 105 and 103 of the cover 43′, the position shown inFIG. 6C.

It will be noted that the ridge 87 of the hinge 47′ and a portion of theridge 85 adjacent to it mate with the channels 99 and 101 of the cardbody 11′. If the hinge were free to rotate a full 360 degrees, thesemating surface relief patterns would provide four stable rotationalpositions 90 degrees from each other about the first axis 82. Similarly,the ridge 89 and portion of the ridge 85 adjacent to it that mate withthe channels 103 and 105 of the cover provide four similar stablerotatable positions between the hinges and the cover about the secondaxis 84. The mechanism is constrained, however, in this example, toutilize only two rotatable positions with the body 11′ and two rotatablepositions with the cover 43′. This combination provides the three stablerotatable positions between the cover and the card body that areillustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C.

Although not explicitly shown, the second opposite surface of the hinge47′ is urged against opposing surfaces of the body and cover having thesame shapes as those shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C. The hinge and theseother surfaces cooperate in the same manner as described above.

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C have not been discussed but it may be noted thatthey show relative orientations of the hinge 47′ for the positions ofthe covers shown in respective FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C.

Although the various aspects of the present invention have beendescribed with respect to several exemplary embodiments and variationsthereof, it will be understood that the invention is entitled toprotection within the full scope of the appended claims.

1. An enclosed electronic circuit card, comprising: a first portionhaving a predominately rectangular shape with a first thickness and afirst set of contacts positioned at one end of the circuit card andaccessible at an outside surface thereof, a second portion rigidlyconnected to the first portion and having a rectangular shape with awidth less than that of the first portion, a second set of contactspositioned on an outside surface thereof at an end of the circuit cardopposite said one end and a second thickness less than the firstthickness, and a cover hinged to the first portion of the circuit cardand rotatable by hand about an axis extending across the width of thecircuit card between at least a first position that covers the secondset of contacts and a second position that exposes the second set ofcontacts.
 2. The card according to claim 1, wherein contacts of thefirst set of contacts are positioned in recesses in the outside surfaceof the first portion that extend to open to the one end of the circuitcard.
 3. The card according to claim 1, wherein the cover is hinged tothe first portion of the circuit card at edges thereof on opposite sidesof the second portion.
 4. The card according to claim 3, wherein adiscontinuity in thickness of the circuit card exists at the connectionof the first and second portions on a side of the second portioncontaining the second set of contacts.
 5. The card according to claim 4,wherein the first and second sets of contacts are positioned on a commonside of the circuit card and an opposite side of the circuit cardincludes a planar surface extending across both of the first and secondportions.
 6. The card according to claim 4, wherein the cover has anuneven thickness that forms a common planar surface with the secondportion when the cover is in the first position.
 7. The card accordingto claim 1, wherein the second portion is connected to the first portionat a center of the first portion across its width.
 8. The card accordingto claim 7, wherein the cover has sidewalls that extend along both sidesof the second portion when the cover is in the first position.
 9. Thecard according to claim 1, wherein the cover is hinged to the firstportion of the circuit card by a pair of solid hinges each connectedwith the first portion of the circuit card at a first axis of rotationand with the cover at a second axis of rotation, wherein the first andsecond axes of rotation are separated along a length of the circuitcard.
 10. The card according to claim 9, wherein side walls of the solidhinges have: a surface relief pattern adjacent the first axis ofrotation that mates with a surface relief pattern on the first portionof the circuit card to hold the hinges in at least one designatedrotatable position with respect to the first portion of the circuitcard, and a surface relief pattern adjacent the second axis of rotationthat mates with a surface relief pattern on the cover to hold the hingesin at least one designated rotatable position with respect to the cover.11. The card according to claim 10, wherein the second thickness andsecond set of contacts have dimensions and are arranged according to apublished Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug standard.
 12. The cardaccording to claim 10, wherein the first thickness and first set ofcontacts have dimensions and are arranged according to a publishedspecification of a Secure Digital (SD) memory card.
 13. An enclosedelectronic circuit card, comprising: a predominately rectangular shapedbody having a first thickness and a first set of contacts positionedalong one side of the circuit card on an outside surface of the circuitcard, a plug according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) standardextending from another side of the circuit card, the plug having asecond set of contacts positioned on an outside surface thereof at anend of the plug and a second thickness less than the first thickness,and a cover hinged to the body of the circuit card adjacent said anotherside thereof and rotatable by hand about an axis extending in adirection across the outside surface of the body of the circuit card onwhich the first set of contacts is positioned, the cover being rotatablebetween at least a first position that covers the second set of contactsand a second position that exposes the second set of contacts.
 14. Thecard according to claim 13, wherein the cover is hinged to the body ofthe circuit card by a pair of solid hinges each connected with the bodyof the circuit card at a first axis of rotation and with the cover at asecond axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation. 15.The card according to claim 13, wherein the cover has an uneventhickness that, when the cover is in the first position, (1) a surfaceof the plug containing the second set of contacts and adjacent edges ofthe plug are surrounded by the cover and (2) a common planar surface isformed between the cover and the body of the circuit card.
 16. The cardaccording to claim 13, wherein the first thickness and first set ofcontacts have dimensions and are arranged according to a publishedspecification of a Secure Digital (SD) memory card.